Dear OTT Community,
We hope you had a restful end to the year and that 2026 is off to a good start.
January is a moment to ease back in—and to look ahead. Below is a snapshot of what’s coming up across 2026, and where there are opportunities to engage with OTT through the year.
Alongside our usual offer for information, networking and learning opportunities, we’re excited to share
that—after 15 years of working closely with think tanks and funders—we’re preparing to launch a new membership offering, shaped directly by what our community has been asking for and the emerging needs we’re seeing across the sector. Building on our advisory and consulting work, these memberships—along with upcoming courses—are designed to support more sustained learning, peer exchange, and access to practical tools over the year. More details will follow in the coming months.As you plan the year ahead, we’re here to support think tanks and funders through memberships, advisory and consulting engagements, learning programmes, and facilitated spaces for exchange. We’re glad to be part of the conversations to come.
- Register your interest for the OTT Conference 2026 →
If you missed attending the 2026 School, sign up for the 2027 edition →
- Get in touch to explore partnership opportunities for 2026 →
Until next month,
Enrique Mendizabal
Featured content
New blogs:
Rethinking aid, power and peer-to-peer collaboration, by Enrique Mendizabal
Making AI work for you: How think tanks can optimise their communications for generative search, by Andrea Cabrera & Kshipra Ajrekar
In case you missed it: OTT Annual Review 2025
Do you have insights, case studies, or research to share? Submit your article to reach a global audience of policy experts, change-makers, and thought leaders.
OTT Consulting: Helping you to deliver your missions
Supporting think tanks
Last year, the State of the Sector 2025 Survey gathered insights from over 330 think tanks worldwide, capturing how organisations are navigating funding pressures, political change, leadership transitions, and new technologies. These perspectives shaped the State of the Sector 2025 Report and informed the peer-led 100 Think Tanks to Watch 2025, highlighting organisations recognised and learned from across the community.
That cycle continues in 2026. The State of the Sector 2026 Survey is now open, inviting think tanks to share how they are operating today and what’s changing on the ground. These insights will once again feed into our sector-wide analysis and directly support the ongoing refresh of the Open Think Tank Directory, helping keep it a current, visible, and reliable resource for the global think tank ecosystem. Together, they also lay the groundwork for the 100 Think Tanks to Watch 2026, ensuring it reflects the realities, innovations, and priorities emerging across regions and contexts
Supporting funders
We’re supporting Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS) on the development of an Ideal Enabling Environment for Philanthropy: Policy Guide and Playbook of Practices. The project brings together global case studies examining stories of change, key protagonists, and the opportunities and challenges involved, concluding with practical lessons learned.
Given the diversity of geographic and political contexts, the cases focus on transferable insights that decision-makers can apply directly when shaping policy and practice.
This work reflects our ongoing consulting support to funders and networks—combining research, convening, and practical guidance to inform real-world decision-making.
Interested in working with us on similar research and advisory work?
Work with us →
Advisory programme for think tank leaders
Through OTT’s Advisory Programme for Think Tank Leaders, we work directly with think tank leaders to strengthen strategy, funding approaches, impact articulation, and positioning—tailored to their context and ambitions. Recent engagements have supported organisations in clarifying their value to funders, sharpening international narratives, and navigating strategic choices for growth.
Grounded in over 15 years of global experience with think tanks, our advisory work offers practical, trusted support for leaders navigating change and uncertainty—and for funders seeking to strengthen the organisations they support.
If you’re planning ahead for 2026, we’d welcome a conversation.
Work with us →
Upcoming events
OTT Conference 2026, 19-21 May 2026
Join think tank leaders, funders and policy experts from around the world at the 10th edition of the OTT Conference in Rabat, Morocco, hosted in partnership with the Policy Center for the New South.
School for Thinktankers 2026
Applications are now closed for the 10th edition of the School for Thinktankers. We’re delighted by the strong response and are looking forward to welcoming the largest cohort to date next month at Fundació Bofill in Barcelona.
If you missed attending the 2026 School, sign up for the 2027 edition →
- Raisina Dialogue 2026, 5-7 March 2026 |
New Delhi, India
The Raisina Dialogue is India’s premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, held annually in New Delhi since 2016. Organised by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs, this three-day event convenes global leaders, policymakers, academics, industry experts, and journalists to discuss critical international issues.
News & announcements
Think tank news:
Bruegel's 20th anniversary: In 2025, Bruegel celebrates its 20th Anniversary with a series of events and activities.
Alliance for Securing Democracy (ASD) and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue-US (ISD-US) have announced their merger effective January 1, 2026.
The president of the Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea), Luciana Mendes Santos Servo, was elected Woman Economist of 2025 by the Cofecon/Corecons System, which brings together the Federal Economic Council (Cofecon) and the regional economic councils.
Foreign policy expert and CEO of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, has been featured in the 100 Most Influential Africans in 2025 list.
New leadership appointments:
Centre for Policy Dialogue’s Executive Director, Dr Fahmida Khatun, has been appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General as a Member of the Independent Expert Advisory Panel on the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI).
Professor Anuradha Joshi has been appointed as the new Director of the Institute of Development Studies (IDS).
Dr Namukolo Covic has been appointed as the Head of the CGIAR Liaison Office for Africa.
- Sarah Bressan is the new Head of Futures & Strategic Foresight at the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi).
Now hiring!
Content Marketing Manager, Arbo — Washington, DC
Associate, Corruption Prevention – Ukraine, Basel Institute on Governance
- Fellow, Asia House — London, United Kingdom
